Hand held propulsion unit



A ril 29, 1969 J. G. STRADER 3,441,952

HAND HELD PROPULSION UNIT Sheet of 4 Filed Dec. 4, 1967 April 29, 1969 YJ. G. STRADER HAND HELD PROPULSION UNIT Sheet 2 of4 Filed Dec. 4, 1967April 9, 1969 J. 3. STRADER 3,441,952:

HAND HELD PROPULSION uum Sheet 3 of4 Filed Dec. 4, 1967 'April29,1 969J. G. ST AQER 3, 1,

HAND HELD PROPULSiON UNIT Filed Dec. 4, 1967 7 Sheet 4 bf 4 UnitedStates Patent 3,441,952 HAND HELD PROPULSION UNIT John Gary Strader, 360N. Saltair Breutwood, Calif. 94513 Filed Dec. 4, 1967, Ser. No. 687,768Int. Cl. 1363c 11 /00; B6311 1/14 US. Cl. 115-61 14 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a battery operatedpropulsion unit for swimers and more particularly to a hand held,electrically powered propulsion unit combined with a remote batterypower source.

Batteries generally available to underwater swimmers have been adaptedfor relatively extended use, eg five hours without exceeding the weightand volume limitations of port-ability, Certain battery types may evenbe mounted on the swimmers torso. Reference is made to prior Patent3,329,118 for some discussion of the battery power sources now availableto underwater swimmers. Patent 3,329,118 shows a battery operatedpropulsion unit adapted for attachment to the swimmers torso by a bodyharness which leaves arms and legs unhindered. While such an approachseems self-evidently highly desirable, in practice, the unhamperedfreedom of arms and legs is more apparent than real since little is donewith the hands other than guiding the forward motion of the swimmer whenthe propulsion system is in operation.

A small hand-held propulsion unit loosely tethered to the swimmer may infact be more advantageous than a torso mounted system. It can hamper theswimmers activities less. A loosely tethered propulsion unit of zerobuoyancy can be hooked to a belt or body harness or even laid aside whenthe swimmer wishes unhindered arms and hands, yet remains convenientlyat hand when the swimmer wishes to travel. Moreover, a hand-held unitmay have a shape appropriate for streamlined movement. Efiicient use ofavailable power is of more than passing importance for battery poweredunderwater propulsion systems.

The principal object of this invention, is to provide a small hand-heldbattery powered propulsion unit for underwater swimmers.

A further object of the invention is to provide an underwater propulsionunit of a miniaturized nature which does not block the swimmers line ofsight.

Another object of the present invention is .to provide a hand-heldbattery powered propulsion unit and remote power source system forunderwater swimmers.

Further objects and the advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description, wherein preferred embodimentsthereof are described in detail, without limiting the scope of theinvention set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention provides for separating the propulsion unit andpower source. The power source, i.e. the battery, is attached to theswimmers torso as for example by being made part of a belt structure,causing the swimmer or diver to be self-contained. The battery 3,441,952Patented Apr. 29, 1969 'ice may also be disposed in a floating structure(eg a buoy) tethered to the swimmer by a power line umbilical.

The propulsion unit is formed in an efficient shape for underwatermovement, being in a preferred embodiment, a small hand-held unit shapedlike a delta wing having a generally cylindrical, hollow center portion.An electric motor is disposed in the center portion with the motor driveshaft extending through a seal at the rear of the center portion to apropeller mounted thereon adjacent the rear edge of the center portion.A pair of hand grips are provided on the wing for the swimmer so that hemay be drawn along behind the propulsion unit. A power line extends outfrom the motor of the propulsion unit to a plug connection on a belt orharness secured to the swimmers torso. This power line, alone or with atie line or cord, tethers the propulsion unit to the swimmer.

The battery power source attached to the plug connection may be amultiplicity of cells mounted on a belt or harness on the swimmerstorso, e.g., silver-cadmium or nickel-cadmium cells.

Alternatively, the power source may be more remote, being for example, abattery encased in a buoy structure from which a power line extends to aplug connection on belt or harness means mounted on the swimmer. Thebuoy power source is, of course, particularly adapted for swimming inshallow waters. However, construction of a buoy power source withessentially zero buoyancy permits the buoy to be towed behind theswimmer at depths.

For a description of the structure of the present invention, referenceis now made to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a swimmer being propelled by apropelling unit being supplied with power from a buoy;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the buoy with its source of power;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the swimmer being propelled by a beltmounted power source;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the propulsion unit;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view showing component parts of the propulsionunit;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a belt mounted battery power sourcewith parts broken away;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along 77 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along 88 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 9 diagrammatically shows a camera mount fastened to thepropulsion unit, with the camera shown in broken lines;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary section taken along line 10I0 of FIGURE 9showing the electrical connection between the propulsion unit and anaccessory;

FIGURE 11 diagrammatically shows a battery pack compressed air cylinderassembly; and

FIGURE 12 diagrammatically shows the propulsion unit mounted to drive asmall boat.

As may be seen in FIGURE 1, a swimmer 1 is drawn along under water bythe forward movement of propulsion unit 10. Power from a battery insidebuoy 50 is transmitted via power line 72 to a location on the swimmerstorso, e.g. a belt 82, from which a plug connection to the power line 28of propulsion unit 10 provides the current from the electric motorinside propulsion unit 10.

Alternatively, as is shown in FIGURE 3, the power line 28 of propulsionunit 10 can be plugged into cells or batteries 42 mounted in a belt 40around the swimmers torso, or on the swimmers back as in the modeillustrated by FIGURE 11 where battery pack is associated with the lungor compressed air supply tank 96.

The shape and construction of propulsion unit may best be appreciated byreference to FIGURES 4 through 8, which illustrate how propulsion unit10 comprises a sealed housing 12 formed in the shape of a delta wing 14having a bulbous, almost cylindrical center portion 16. Housing 12 maybe assembled by gluing together molded top half 11 and bottom half 13,these housing members being for example high strength plastic materials,polyester fiberglass laminates being particularly suitable.

The bulbous hollow center portion 16 of housing 12 is adapted to containan electric motor 18. The motor shaft 20 extends axially out of housing12 through a pressure and water tight seal structure 22 (of aconventional character) and a screw propeller 24 is mounted on the endof shaft 20. A removable hatch 17 provides access to housing 12 forrepair purposes.

The specific size and shape of the wing 14 is subject to wide variationyet be within the hydrodynamic considerations for high efiiciencymovement through water at the desired velocity. As illustrated the deltawing shape is preferred with a small wing span (eg 2 feet) provided inkeeping with the hand-held propulsion concept. Advantageously, efficientshape and convenient size is consistent also with the buoyancy controlobtainable through predetermining the amount of hollow space left insidehousing 12. Thus propulsion unit 10 can be made with negative, orpositive, or even zero buoyancy through proper proportioning of thehollow space to the total weight (in water) for the buoyancy desired.

The interior of housing 12 is, of course, made pressure and water tightand in addition housing 12 is capable of withstanding substantialexternal and internal pressures. Desirably, valve 26 (which may forexample be an ordinary tire valve) is provided so that the interior ofhousing 12 may be pressurized. Aside from whatever advantages aninternal gas pressure offers against collapse of housing 12 at greatdepths, positive air pressure inside propulsion unit 10 permits theswimmer to test for leaks, e.g. at seal 22, hand grips 32 and 34, etc. Afull shroud 38 and guard 39 protect the swimmer from propeller 24.

Current from the electric motor 18 in propulsion unit 10 is providedfrom the remote battery source by way of power line 28, which extendsfrom a pressure tight sealed opening 15 (see FIGURES 3 and 5) on therear of wing 14 to a terminal jack 30 which jack is adapted to plug intoa matching jack 44 on the swimmers belt 40 (or alternatively on a bodyharness).

A pair of hand grips 32 and 34 are disposed adjacent the rear corners ofwing 14 and in a preferred embodiment, as is shown in FIGURE 4 of thedrawing, grips 32, 34 upstand obliquely from wing 14. They could as wellextend out directly in line with the wing or be at some convenient anglethereto. A waterproof switch 36 (e.g. a toggle switch) on hand grip 32controls propulsion unit 10, the switch 36 being adapted for operationby the thumb of swimmer 1 or by movement of the palm of his hand.

The tops of hand grips 32, 34 have threaded fittings 33 therein forremovably attaching accessories to propulsion unit 10, as for examplethe camera 100 shown in FIG- URE 9. Suitably, camera 100 is mounted on ayoke 91 which attaches to hand grips 32, 34 and to the nose of wing 14.An electrical plug (waterproof) connection 35 on grip 32 (see FIGURE 10)serves to provide power to the accessories. The camera thereby rests ata convenient location relative both to propulsion unit 10 and to theline of sight of swimmer 1.

It may be noted that the same or a similar yoke 90 may be employed toconnect propulsion unit 10 to a small craft (e.g. row boat) 116 by wayof a shaft 110 and bearing bracket 114. The steering rod 112 may beprovided with a control switch. Since skin and scuba diving isfrequently done from small craft, the possibilities for operatingpropulsion unit 10 (off a boat battery) offers the swimmer a desirablesafety feature against the event of motor failure.

Allusion has already been made that separating the battery power sourcefrom propulsion unit 10 is desirable. Separation permits construction ofa small, self-contained, propulsion unit. Desirably the power line ofthe propulsion unit is tethered to the swimmers torso. In one mode ofthe invention, the battery source of power is mounted directly on theswimmers torso by a belt or harness. FIG- URE 6 illustrates a beltmember 40 holding a series of miniature batteries 42 (in seriesconnection) inside a waterproof shroud 43. A belt jack 44 is adapted toplug into the jack 30 on the power line 28 of propulsion unit 10.

FIGURE 11 shows another mode where battery pack is associated with theself-contained underwater breathing apparatus 96.

An alternative power source, or a supplemental source of power, is thebuoy mounted battery illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2 of the drawings.The buoy 50 comprises an enclosed body, e.g. spherical 52 with anannular skirt 54 medially therearound (at about the Water line).Optionally, a rubber bumper fringe 56 may be on the peripheral edge ofskirt 54. The top half of sphere 52 contains a port 58, which, in apreferred embodiment, opens on hinge 60 and secures by latch 62 intowatertight sealing engagement. The battery 64 is, or course, inside thehollow sphere or chamber 52. Suitably, battery 64 may be a conventionalheavy duty 12-volt lead-acid battery. If desired, the buoy 50 may beincorporated into a catamaran or trimaran.

Extending up from sphere or chamber 52, suitably from the top side ofport 58, is a post 66 for a diver down flag or pennant 68. Pennant post66 may serve as a receiving antenna; thus it may be noted that the buoy50 serves both as power source and as carrier for the diver down flag. Atransmitting antenna 67 may be provided on buoy 50 along with a radioinside buoy 50 so that the swimmer may communicate with other divers orwith any boat equipped with a receiver of the same frequency.

At the underwater side of sphere or chamber 52 is a half moon runner 70(of stainless steel) extending from one side of the periphery of skirt54 around to the other side. Runner 70 passes closely adjacent where thepower line 72 passes from the under side of sphere 52 by way of awatertight juncture 74 therewith. A pulley 75 is attached to runner 70.The purpose of pulley 75 is to stabilize buoy 50 while under tow and toprevent stress at water tight juncture 74. A separate line may beprovided for tethering purposes, and/ or alternatively for communicationif the swimmer is provided with a radio.

Desirably, the underside of buoy 50 is provided with three legs 78 sothat buoy 50 may be set upright on the legs 78 when out of water forrecharging battery 64. When buoy 50 is in the water, legs 78, which arehingedly mounted, are placed into an up position generally parallel toskirt 54, as is shown in FIGURE 1. The skirt 54 acts generally tomaintain buoy stability, preventing capsize when forward motion byswimmer 1 tugs at the pulley connection 75 of power line 72. The botttomof buoy 50 need not be restricted to a sphere shape. The bottom can besquared off for seating on shore without the need of legs or any sort oftripod.

Power line 72 terminates at a plug-in jack 84 on the swimmers belt 82(or harness) which may of course be the battery containing belt 40constructed with jack 84 and an associated separate jack for attachmentto jack 30 of the propulsion unit 10 power line 28. Thus, the connectionbetween the propulsion unit 10 and the buoy power supply 50 is by way ofmeans on the swimmers torso, which means form then an important linkbetween the power source and the propulsion unit.

Interposing the swimmer between the buoy 50 (or whatever remote powersource such as the boat itself) and propulsion unit 10 maintains theswimmer as a vital part of the connection, providing thereby asignificant safety measure against loss of the gear in a moment of panicor excitement. The belt 82 may have thereon a clip 83 on whichpropulsion unit can be hung when not in use.

While the buoy 50 has been described in terms of a floating unit, itshould be understood that weight and volume of buoy and battery may bepredetermined to provide a near zero buoyancy, making the buoy powersupply amenable to submergence should the swimmer wish to go deeper thanthe length of power line 72. Indeed, the buoy may be towed behindswimmer 1 at considerable depths.

Although the invention has been set forth in conjunction with exemplarypreferred tethering and power supply embodiments thereof, othertethering and power supply embodiments are contemplated, Thus, forexample, the swimmer and propulsion unit may be tethered to and poweredby a submarine, or from an undersea installation like a sea-lab.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically operated hand held propulsion unit for underwaterswimmers comprising a sealed housing formed into a winged shape with abulbous hollow center portion; an electric motor mounted inside saidcenter portion at least partially filling the hollow space in saidhousing, the drive shaft of said motor extending out the rear of saidhousing; shaft sealing means on said housing adapted to maintain awatertight seal at the juncture of said motor shaft and housing; apropeller mounted on said shaft for propelling the propulsion unit whensaid motor is energized; a pair of spaced apart hand grips mounted onthe wing area of said unit, one of said grips being provided with switchmeans for energizing said motor; and a power line for said motorextending through said housing for supplying current from a remotesource.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wing shape is a delta wingwhose rear edge is about in line with said propeller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hand grips are mounted adjacentthe rear of said wing area and upstand therefrom.

4. The apparatus provided for pressurizing the interior mg.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a shroud and propeller guard extendaround the propeller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hand grips contain screw holemounting means, whereby an accessor may be secured to said unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein an electric outlet means is providedon said unit.

of claim 1 wherein valve means are of said sealed hous- 8. The apparatusof claim 1 including a battery power source attachable to the swimmer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said battery power source is mountedon a belt intended to go around the swimmers torso.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said power source is mounted in afloating structure and said floating structure is tethered to meansadapted for attachment to the swimmer.

, 11. An electrically operated propulsion system for underwater swimmerscomprising a hand held electric motor driven propulsion unit; a batterypower source; and power connections therebetween attachable to theswimmer, said power source further comprising a buoy adapted to containthe battery therein, said buoy being in the form of a spherical bodywith an annular skirt horizontally therearound at a mid region thereof,a runner extending from one side of the disc to the other at theunderside of said buoy, the connection from said buoy to the swimmerextending from a bottom location on said buoy adjacent said runner,whereby said runner acts to prevent buoy capsize when motion of saidswimmer tugs on the buoy connection.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said buoy further contains anaccess port on the top side half thereof to provide access to saidbattery.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein legs are provided on theunderwater side of said buoy whereby said buoy may stand upright on dryland.

14. An electrically operated propulsion system for underwater swimmerscomprising a motor driven propulsion unit with hand grip operatingmembers thereon; a battery power source separate therefrom; and a powerconnection therebetween attachable to the swimmer, said power sourcefurther comprising means adapted for attachment to the torso of aswimmer, a waterproofed battery forming a part of said means, said powerconnection serving also to tether said propulsion unit to the swimmer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,918,889 12/1959 Rebikoif.3,014,448 12/1961 Fogarty et al. 6.1 3,039,415 6/ 1962 Foster.

FOREIGN PATENTS 92,265 8/ 1958 Norway.

TRYGVE, M. BLIX, Primary Examiner.

